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In 1911, the former actor Eric Williams started a new career reciting to his own specially made films. Over the next few years he produced and acted in some dozen films, and recited to these in numerous theaters throughout the United Kingdom.The film narratives were based on pre-existing texts, such as scenes from Shakespeare or popular ballads by the likes of Frederick Weatherly or G. R. Sims. Williams had evident talent as an “elocutionist,” but the chapter argues that his appeal was also founded on a unique fusion of three factors: his films were specially made and not off the shelf, he...

In 1911, the former actor Eric Williams started a new career reciting to his own specially made films. Over the next few years he produced and acted in some dozen films, and recited to these in numerous theaters throughout the United Kingdom.The film narratives were based on pre-existing texts, such as scenes from Shakespeare or popular ballads by the likes of Frederick Weatherly or G. R. Sims. Williams had evident talent as an “elocutionist,” but the chapter argues that his appeal was also founded on a unique fusion of three factors: his films were specially made and not off the shelf, he appeared both in the film and reciting live in the theater, and he lip-synced some of the lines of the on-screen performers.